Introducing the 2012 LET Scholars
The 12 successful applicants for the 12th Len Evans Tutorial, to be held in the Hunter Valley, 5-9 November, have been announced with an extraordinary calibre of scholars, including a Master of Wine, a Master Sommelier and last year’s Jimmy Watson Trophy winner.
Each year, the Len Evans Tutorial welcomes some of the most elite wine professionals from across Australia and the world to develop their wine appreciation with the nation’s top wine experts at Tower Lodge in the Hunter Valley.
Many of the greatest, rarest and oldest wines are opened, tasted and scrutinised in one extraordinary week when 12 young(ish) wine makers, writers, retailers, sommeliers, journalists and enthusiasts are put to the sternest and most rewarding wine course of their lives.
2012 Len Evans Tutorial Scholars
Ned Goodwin MW Global Dining Wine Director
Anna Pooley Treasury Wine Estates Winemaker
Thomas Hogan Lake House Head Sommelier
Tom Ward Swinging Bridge Owner/Winemaker
Stuart Knox Fix St James Owner/Sommelier
Christopher Tyrrell Tyrrell’s Vineyards Assistant Winemaker
Michael Engelmann MS Rockpool Bar & Grill Head Sommelier
Amanda Regan Journalist/Writer
Fiona Donald Seppeltsfield Wines Senior Winemaker
Sarah Pidgeon Wynns Coonawarra Estate Winemaker
Nick Glaetzer Glaetzer/Dixon Owner/Winemaker
Elizabeth Reed Samuel Smith & Son Area Manager
The Tutorial program is designed to define the demands of wine show judging and to define quality by exposing the scholars to the great wine styles of the world. A team of five tutors will put the scholars through their paces in what James Halliday described as “the most exclusive wine school in the world.”
The tutors include: James Halliday, Ian McKenzie, Iain Riggs, Gary Steel and Tim James.
Scholars from the past 11 Tutorials are now gracing the judging benches at all major wine shows across Australia.
Qantas is the sponsor of the 2012 Dux scholarship. The Dux is rewarded with a guaranteed judging position at two of Australia’s most important Wine Shows – the National Wine Show in Canberra and the Royal Sydney Wine Show, as well being offered a position as Associate Judge at the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Qantas will also fly the Dux to London and then onto Europe with invitations to the greatest wine houses.
Twelve fully paid scholarships are offered each year including wine, food and accommodation at the luxury Tower Lodge, all valued at $12,000.
2012 scholarship sponsors include: Scarborough Wines, Brokenwood Wines, Lehmann Wines, Leeuwin Estate, Australian Vintage Ltd, McWilliams Mt Pleasant, Petaluma, Shaw and Smith Pty Ltd, Tyrrell’s Vineyards Pty Ltd, Vintage Cellars and Yalumba Wine Company.
Other major sponsors include;
Basil Sellers – Sellers Group, Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show, Riedel The Wine Glass Company, Tower Lodge, Peppers Guests House Hunter Valley.
